A worker climbs down a ladder into a 50-foot shaft where a tunneling machine was placed as part of the Flint water line construction in Worth Township.

Michigan's leadership is badly in need of adults - people who act responsibly, not expediently. The new Lake Huron intake tunnel's construction is an outrageous example of the latter.

Our state is in the middle of a critical campaign to retrieve some of its troubled cities from financial ruin. Flint is one of the cities overseen by a state-appointed emergency manager. The intervention's aim is to correct the city's wasteful spending and put its finances in order.

But Flint and Genesee County are principals of the Karegnondi Water Authority project to tap Lake Huron water and pipe it about 70 miles to Flint.

Proponents argue the new water project will be a boon. It will end Flint's dependence on Detroit for its water. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has been the source of corruption and some of the cities that buy its water have long complained of excessive rate charges.

But the Karegnondi project is going forward despite the existence of the Detroit Water Tunnel just six miles south of it. The tunnel has more than enough capacity to meet Flint's needs.

No matter. Flint and Detroit tried to reach an accord that could have avoided duplicating the water tunnel. Karegnondi opted for a project that could cost half a billion dollars to complete.

The astonishing point is such a costly and redundant project could be permitted when Flint and Detroit are under state emergency managers' control. No one disputes that Flint has a legitimate beef about the way Detroit's water department was run, but the city is under state control.

Surely a new agreement could have been struck that accorded Flint some relief. Failing that, at least the emergency managers of the two respective cities could have figured out a way to stop the new water project.

The progress of this new water tunnel is a commentary on the absence of responsible leadership. Even state intervention doesn't guarantee state officials will act like adults.

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Lake Huron project can't be justified

Michigan's leadership is badly in need of adults ? people who act responsibly, not expediently. The new Lake Huron intake tunnel's construction is an outrageous example of the latter.